Challenger 1 tank

FV 4030 Challenger
Challenger 1 at the Bovington tank museum
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	United Kingdom primary user  Jordan
Production history
Manufacturer	Royal Ordnance Factories
Specifications
Weight	62 tonnes
Length	11.5 m (Gun forward)
Width	3.51 m
Height	2.95 m
Crew	4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
Armour	Chobham,classified
Primary armament	L11A5 120 mm rifled 64 rounds
Secondary armament	7.62 mm L8A2, 7.62 mm L37A2 machine guns 4,000 rounds
Engine	Rolls-Royce CV12 26 litre diesel 1,200 hp (895 kW)
Suspension	hydropneumatic (Hydrogas)
Operational range	450 km (on road)
Speed	56 km/h (37 mph)

The British FV4030/4 Challenger 1 A.K.A Al-Hussein, was the main battle tank (MBT) of the British Army from 1983 until superseded by the Challenger 2 in the mid 1990s, it is currently used by the Jordanian Armed Forces as their main battle tank after heavy modifications. The variants for the Jordanian military are upgraded to the challenger 2 standards and are ongoing upgrades using an-unmaned turret called the falcon turet.

History

The Challenger was built by the Royal Ordnance Factories (ROF). In 1986 ROF Leeds (and the Challenger production line) were acquired by Vickers Defence Systems (later Alvis Vickers). The Challenger design by the former Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment (MVEE) near Chobham in Surrey originated in an Iranian order for an improved version of the stalwart Chieftain line of tanks in service around the world. These were the Chieftain Mk5(P)- FV4030/1, FV4030/2 Shir (Lion)1 and 4030/3 Shir 2. With the fall of the Shah of Iran and the collapse of the UK MBT80 project, the British Army became the customer and the tank was further developed by MVEE to meet Western European requirements. For a short time the tank was named "Cheviot" before becoming "Challenger", a name reused from a cruiser tank of the Second World War. The most revolutionary aspect of the Challenger 1 design was its Chobham armour which gave protection far superior to any monolithic Rolled Homogeneous Armour (RHA), which was the then standard of tank armour material. This armour has been adopted by others, most notably the American M1 Abrams. Additionally the Hydrogas suspension fitted provided outstanding cross-country performance through the long suspension arm travel and controlled bump and rebound behaviour offered. Challenger 1 competed in the Canadian Army Trophy Competition in 1987. It scored more direct hits than its competitors, but the poor fire control system and sights caused it to be the slowest firer, and it was placed last in the league tables. A requirement for a new MBT was issued. Proposals put forward for the new specification included an improved Challenger from Vickers, the American M1 Abrams, the French Leclerc, and the German Leopard 2. The Vickers Defence Systems design, designated Challenger 2, was eventually selected. This tank was significantly more capable than its predecessor, based on the same basic MVEE-designed hull but with a new turret based on the Vickers Private Venture Mk7 design and improved Chobham armour. There was also a Challenger Marksman SPAAG version, equipped with the Marksman turret.

Operational service

180 Challenger tanks were deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Granby, the UK operation in the Gulf War. The Challenger claimed 300 kills against armoured vehicles for no losses. It also has the distinction of the longest range tank-to-tank kill in military history, destroying an Iraqi tank at a range of 2.5 miles (4 km). Challengers were also used by the British Army in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Operation Joint Guardian, the NATO-led drive into Kosovo.

Operators

Issued first to The Royal Hussars (PWO)

• United Kingdom, replaced by Challenger 2.
  • 14th/20th Kings Own Hussars
  • 13th/8th Hussars
  • 2nd Royal Tank Regiment
• Jordan, 392 Challenger 1, known locally as al-Hussein. Multiple local variants.

External links

• Globalsecurity.org
• Battletanks.com
• Historyofwar.org